Leaving: meaning, definitions and examples

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leaving

 

[ ˈliːvɪŋ ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

farewell

The act of departing from a place or person.

Synonyms

departure, exit, parting.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
leaving

Used when someone moves away from a place. It can apply to various situations, such as saying goodbye or moving out.

  • She's leaving the office at 5 PM.
  • They are leaving for vacation tomorrow.
departure

More formal term for leaving. Often used in travel contexts, such as timetables or airport announcements.

  • The departure time for the flight is at 8 AM.
  • His departure from the company was unexpected.
exit

Commonly refers to physically going out of a place. Also used metaphorically for ending participation in an event or situation.

  • Please take the nearest exit in case of an emergency.
  • Her exit from the meeting left everyone surprised.
parting

Used in emotional or dramatic contexts, often implying a temporary or long-term goodbye.

  • Their parting was filled with tears.
  • The parting gift was a reminder of their friendship.

Examples of usage

  • She made her leaving without saying goodbye.
  • Leaving is always hard, especially when you have to say goodbye to loved ones.
Context #2 | Verb

abandoning

To go away from or leave a place, person, or thing.

Synonyms

depart, exit, move on.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
leaving

Used in casual situations when someone is going away from a place, position, or state. It can be used in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

  • I'm leaving the office early today.
  • He's leaving the team at the end of the season.
depart

Often used in formal contexts, such as travel (especially related to transportation schedules) or official circumstances. It can also imply an emotional or significant separation.

  • The train will depart from platform four at noon.
  • She departed from her customary routine to try something new.
exit

Typically used when referring to leaving through a door or a designated exit point in a building, vehicle, or electronic interface. It often emphasizes the act of leaving a specific location.

  • Please exit through the rear door.
  • He exited the application without saving his work.
move on

Used in both casual and informal contexts, often metaphorically. It generally implies progressing to the next stage or letting go of a past situation or emotion.

  • After the breakup, it took her a while to move on.
  • Let's move on to the next topic.

Examples of usage

  • He was leaving for a new job opportunity.
  • Leaving his hometown was a difficult decision for him.

Translations

Translations of the word "leaving" in other languages:

🇵🇹 deixando

🇮🇳 छोड़ना

🇩🇪 verlassen

🇮🇩 meninggalkan

🇺🇦 залишати

🇵🇱 opuszczenie

🇯🇵 去る (saru)

🇫🇷 départ

🇪🇸 salir

🇹🇷 ayrılma

🇰🇷 떠남 (tteonam)

🇸🇦 مغادرة

🇨🇿 odchod

🇸🇰 odchod

🇨🇳 离开 (líkāi)

🇸🇮 odhod

🇮🇸 fara

🇰🇿 кету

🇬🇪 წასვლა (tsasvla)

🇦🇿 getmək

🇲🇽 salir

Etymology

The word 'leaving' originated from the Old English word 'læfan' which means 'to let remain, remain, bequeath'. Over time, the word evolved to its current form in Middle English, retaining its core meaning of departure or abandonment.

See also: leave, leaven.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,334, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.